Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Interview With WGSS Majors
Sarah Hunt - Class of 2012
WGSS: Tell us a little bit about your background.
Sarah: I am originally from Buffalo, NY. I come from a very liberal background and was exposed to as many different cultures, ideas and people as possible. I feel that this has greatly impacted me as it has taught me to be open-minded. Above all, I am very fortunate to have grown up in a family that encouraged individuality, creativity, and above all to always be myself.
WGSS: When did you decide to become a WGSS major?
Sarah: I decided to be a WGSS major the summer between my freshman and sophomore year. At that point, I had taken only the introduction to WGSS, but really felt that major would be a great fit for me.
WGSS: Why did you decide to become a WGSS major?
Sarah: I have always been interested in helping others and listening to their stories. Part of the reason I love WGSS, and became a major, is because it enables me to do just that. As a WGSS major, I can study issues that affect everybody, not just women, through many different lenses using both academic sources and personal narratives. Most of the time I am able to identify in some way with what I am studying, making me passionate about what I learn.
WGSS: How do you plan or imagine using your major after Wooster?
Sarah: After Wooster I would like to work for a not-for-profit organization that centers around either women's or LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) rights and advocacy. The courses offered in the WGSS curriculum have given me such an extensive background in both areas that I feel prepared to go into these fields with confidence from having studied them so intensely.
WGSS: What about the major sets it apart from others for you?
Sarah: My mother said it best when she told me that with a WGSS major I can do anything. Because the major is so interdisciplinary I feel that I can study any subject and relate it to something I have learned in a WGSS course. The way I look at the world has vastly expanded because WGSS has helped frame how I see the world and people around me by providing me a better understanding of layers of society and the issues affecting it.
WGSS: If you could be a superhero, which one would it be and why?
Sarah: I am not very well versed in individual superheroes, but I
think if I had to choose one it would be a person who had wings since I
have always wanted to be able to fly.
WGSS: What books related to WGSS do you recommend to others?
Sarah: Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg. One of my favorite books, it touched me because it really challenges the idea of gender and sexuality while giving the reader an historical perspective of how people in the LGBT community were treated. It was very hard for me to read due to some of its darker themes, but extremely worthwhile. Bitches, Bimbos, and Ballbreakers: The Guerrilla Girls' Illustrated Guide to Female Stereotypes by the Guerrilla Girls. This book is not only incredibly funny, but also eye opening in the way it examines female stereotypes. Here, Bullet by Brian Turner. I originally read this book for one of my WGSS classes. While it is not explicitly gendered, I greatly enjoyed contrasting some of the feminine imagery with the masculine aspects of war. I find Turner's poetry beautifully written and extremely moving.
WGSS: What distinguishes feminist pedagogy from other perspectives on teaching?
Sarah: Feminist pedagogy, in my opinion, tries to allow for as many different viewpoints as possible to be expressed through a discussion atmosphere versus sitting in a class and being lectured to. This style of teaching facilitates an easier exchange of ideas between the participants. It allows for conflict and disagreement that illuminates different layers of a subject rather than just being told what is right, wrong or how you should interpret a text.